Caesar Creek Lake: Crappies are biting around 6 feet deep in the coves around brush and stickups. Use minnows or jigs. Bluegills are biting on waxworms around stickups. The best saugeye fishing so far has been in the coves near the dam. White bass have been running in the creeks. Use Roostertails or Mepps.
Cowan Lake: Crappies have been hitting along the north shore on minnows or jigs tipped with waxworms. You can fish from the bank or a boat. Most fish are in 4-5 feet of water. Bluegills are biting on waxworms around docks and brush. A few bass have been caught on K&E Magnum Bass Stoppers. Try trolling for saugeyes. The marina is now open.
C. J. Brown Reservoir: White bass have been hitting minnows, Roostertails and Kastmasters. Crappies have moved to deeper water, 7-8 feet, hitting minnows and waxworms. Walleyes have been biting on nightcrawlers and Vib-E’s, fished over the old roadbed and around the rocks. Anglers have been catching catfish at night, mostly on nightcrawlers.
Clark Lake: Good crappie fishing has been reported. Try using minnows or jigs tipped with waxworms. The lake will be stocked with rainbow trout on April 5.
Indian Lake: Crappie fishing has been outstanding. Fish from boats or banks 1-2 feet deep with minnows or jigs tipped with waxworms. Most are around docks and lily pads. Moundwood and Long Island have been good spots. Bluegills are hitting waxworms around docks. A number of white bass were recently caught off of Pew Island. Use minnows or a shiny spinner or spoon. Catfish are going after cut shad and nightcrawlers all over the lake. Saugeyes are hitting twisters in the spillway, but not yet in the lake.
Acton Lake: Most of the bass action has been early in the morning. Fish around wood with jigs or jig-n-pig. For crappies, try fishing off of the pier or off the bank at the sugar camp. Use minnows or jigs tipped with waxworms. Boat fishing has been best on the east end of the lake.
Rocky Fork Lake: Good bass fishing continues. Look for wood and fish with black-blue jigs, shaky heads and jig-n-pig. Crappies are 2-4 feet deep, hitting minnows and jigs. Try Fisherman’s Wharf and Kelly’s Cove. Catfish have been hitting cut shad and nightcrawlers on the west end of the lake. Fish the creeks for white bass. Work the coves with waxworms or redworms to catch bluegills.
Paint Creek Lake: Crappie fishing has been very good. Fish have moved to deeper water, but should move up as the water warms. Minnows, jigs and Bobby Garland Baby Shad have been the best baits. Work the points with black/blue plastics to catch bass. Fish off of the beach and the campground flats for catfish. Use cut shad or nightcrawlers. Spillway fishing has been good for saugeyes, crappies and Catfish.
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing was excellent until recent cold, windy weather temporarily slowed fishing. Anglers trolling around the reefs and outer buoys of the Camp Perry firing range have had success with crankbaits in the top 15 feet of water; deep husky jerks, ripsticks and reef runners 30-60 feet back at 1.0-1.6 miles per hour are working best. Jig fishing is picking up, particularly in 8-14 feet of water along the shoreline from Davis-Besse to Turtle Creek. Perch are being caught around Marblehead.
For Lake Erie information, visit wildohio.com or call (888) HOOK-FISH.
Maumee River: The river is high and muddy, but anglers are still catching plenty of walleyes. The best areas have been Fort Meigs and Orleans Park.
Sandusky River: The water level is high and the clarity is poor. The best fishing has been around the Miles Newton Bridge.
For walleye run information, visit maumeetackle.net or wildohio.com.
Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached through his website at www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-dayton/jim-morris or by email at sports@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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